I AM a better driver than you are. It doesn’t matter who is reading this, I am better at driving. I am sure you will quickly disagree. I think we all think we are the best driver on the road. Do you find yourself on the road thinking, what is wrong with that person? I do.

Truth be told, I guess we all can be better drivers. I didn’t really think about my driving habits until recently when my husband got pulled over by a state trooper because he was driving too closely behind an 18-wheeler. My husband is a good driver but we both were a little panicked because my son had just thrown up in the back. The officer didn’t give us a ticket, just a short lecture. Part of that lecture was that driving too close to an 18-wheeler can spark road rage. I think we escaped a ticket because the officer was trying to escape the throw up smell that smacked him in the face when my husband rolled down the window. Ever since the throw up incident, I make it a point not to drive too closely to anyone.

The thing that really irritates me is people who drive slowly on the freeway but then speed in the city. I can not count the number of times I have driven from Pittsburg to Gilmer and passed someone going about 60 in a 70 zone. However, once I get to the 60 zone on the outskirts, I slow down because I know I am about to hit a 45 zone. That same slow driver will pass me up going the same 60 m.p.h. in the 45 zone. I don’t get it. Why do drivers drive slow in a fast zone and the drive fast in a slow zone? I consider them bad drivers.

I HAVE a few tips for my fellow road warriors.

Keep your distance when driving. The rule is one car length per 10 mph. So if you are going 50 mph, there should be 5 car lengths between you and the other car. I know this is hard one to follow but it gives you plenty of time to break.

Don’t speed. I know this is an obvious tip but yet every time I hit the road someone passes me going 10 mph over the speed limit. Driving 10 mph over the speed limit is only going to save you a few minutes but according to research, it increases your crash risk by as much as 50 percent. So slow down.

I don’t know if this a true driving tip or just a pet peeve of mine. When you are sitting there trying to enter the highway, wait until it is clear. I hate people who pull out in front of me, causing me to hit my breaks when they could have waited another 10 seconds and pulled out behind me. Now what really irritates me is when they pull out in front of me and then drive slow. Why were they in such a rush to get in front of me then go slow? I consider them bad drivers.

MY LAST TIP is, be courteous. If someone pulls out in front of you, cuts you off, or nearly hits you, blow it off. The chances are they just made a mistake. They weren’t out to get you. I have to take this advice often. Once I made a mistake and didn’t give the right of way in the Wal Mart parking lot. The other driver was so mad at me. I just looked at her and gave her the sincerest apology I could. She proceed to continue to tell me off. I couldn’t hear her, but boy was she giving me the business. Can you imagine what could have happened had I been rude back to her?

I am sure you may be guilty of not following one or all of my tips. I’m guilty as well but I am making a true effort to become a better driver. I hope you do the same.